Nate Burleson

Burleson suited up in only six games last year before breaking his leg, an injury serious enough to require surgery. Up to that point, he averaged a meager 5.6 YPT despite having Calvin Johnson around to draw defensive attention. And this comes off a disappointing 6.9 YPT mark over 16 games under similarly favorable conditions in 2011. That said, with Ryan Broyles still working his way back from a knee injury, Burleson, whose rehab is ahead of schedule, is the favorite to start opposite Johnson once again. With only average size and speed and turning 32 in August, Burleson is a long shot to be anything more than a possession threat this year, and that's assuming he even keeps the job.

Like his teammate Titus Young, Burleson’s cosmetic numbers – 73 catches, 753 yards – look a lot better than his rate stats – 10.4 YPC, 6.9 YPT. In fact, on 110 targets, Burleson had just seven receptions of 20-plus yards and only one for more than 40. At 6-0, 198, Burleson has average size and speed and functioned more as a possession option opposite superstar Calvin Johnson. Despite seeing little defensive attention, Burleson was inefficient and also struggled to hold onto the ball (10 drops, 5th). Heading into 2012, Burleson should again start opposite Johnson, but Young and tight ends Tony Scheffler and Brandon Pettigrew will again cut into his workload, and rookie second-round draft pick Ryan Broyles (ACL tear) might emerge as a factor during the season’s second half.

The Lions were looking for a complement to oft triple-teamed Calvin Johnson last season, and while Burleson wasn't an ideal solution, he was better than what they had the year before. Burleson averaged a pedestrian 7.3 YPT and 11.4 YPC, but he was playing a possession role on a team that featured Shaun Hill mostly and even Drew Stanton for three games. Heading into 2011, he should reprise the same role, something that could be more rewarding should Matthew Stafford stay healthy and develop in accord with his No. 1 overall potential. The Lions drafted speedster Titus Young in the second round, but he's probably not a threat to Burleson until 2012.

With Calvin Johnson seeing double and sometimes triple teams last year, the Lions needed to bring in another weapon. While Burleson isn’t the second coming of Jerry Rice, he’s an upgrade from last year’s ineffective options. At 6-0, 192, Burleson has average size and decent speed, and he’s has some ability to separate after the catch. Burleson was reasonably productive in a bad situation last year with 7.9 yards per target and a 61 percent catch rate, but he’s not a game changer. He’ll benefit from single coverage, and if Matthew Stafford takes a major leap forward in his second season, could have some value in deeper leagues.

Another wideout trying to bounce back from a major knee injury is Burleson, but he thinks he’ll be full speed ahead for July's training camp. T.J. Houshmandzadeh is locked in as the Seahawks’ go-to receiver, but there is some hope that Burleson can rekindle some of the hope that preceded his injury. That is, that he can provide a solid downfield threat for the team. Rookie Deon Butler and Deion Branch could also factor in, but Butler is raw and Branch, even when healthy, isn’t much of a deep threat.

With Darrell Jackson and D.J. Hackett leaving Seattle in successive seasons and Deion Branch's status for 2008 unclear, Burleson finds himself in the right place at the right time. Burleson managed 13.9 yards per catch a year ago, but only 7.3 yards per target thanks to a below average catch rate of 53 percent. As a third wideout for much of the season, he saw 13 red-zone looks, converting three into scores, and scored nine touchdowns overall, providing reasonable production when Hackett went down. Even if Branch does return ahead of schedule from ACL surgery in January, neither he nor Bobby Engram provides a vertical option or a redzone target for Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. At 6-0, 198, Burleson's not huge, but unlike his teammates, he’s bigger than most defensive backs. Burleson has good quickness and decent burst, and he's dangerous after the catch – which is why he served as the team's kick returner. Despite seeing just 93 targets (39th), he caught 16 passes of 20 yards or more (tied for 10th). Now that Hackett's gone, Burleson should have every opportunity to produce, but he'll have to improve his focus and competitiveness. There’s upside here.

Signed to beef up the receiving corps last season, Burleson turned into a highly paid kick returner as he failed to make an impact at wideout. He was targeted 37 times in 16 games, totaling less than 200 receiving yards. D.J. Hackett passed him on the depth chart, and even without Darrell Jackson, Burleson doesn't have much upside. He'll man the kickoff and punt return duties again.

Touted as the man to lead the Vikings after the departure of Randy Moss, Burleson had two uninspiring games before missing much of the season with knee, shoulder and hip injuries. At 6-0, 195, Burleson plays big and can go up over defenders in traffic. He’s a good route-runner and has reliable hands. Burleson is more quick than fast, able to change directions on a dime, but he’s not going to outrun opposing defensive backs. That said, Burleson can occasionally get deep using his size and leaping ability to bring in the ball downfield. The Seahawks signed Burleson to a seven-year, $49-million deal this winter, but only $5.25 million of that is guaranteed. He’ll likely be Seattle’s No. 3 receiver behind No. 2 Bobby Engram, but expect him to be heavily involved in Seattle’s offense and to benefit from having Matt Hasselbeck slinging him the ball.

When Randy Moss went down for five games with a hamstring injury last season, Burleson became Daunte Culpepper’s favorite target, hauling in 29 passes for 297 yards and four touchdowns during that span. Not mind-blowing numbers, but ones that prorate to 957 yards and 13 touchdowns over 16 games. Factoring the increased chemistry Burleson and Culpepper have presumably developed and that Burleson will go into camp as the No. 1 receiver, the odds for 1,000-plus yards and 8-10 scores are pretty good. At 6-0, 195 pounds, Burleson has decent size and will outleap defensive backs in traffic. He also has great hands and runs fluid routes. Burleson has good quickness and excellent change of direction skills, but he lacks deep speed. As such, he’ll largely be charged with moving the chains, but given his size and leaping ability, he will make some plays downfield – he caught four passes for 40 yards or more last season. Burleson was targeted in the red zone 25 times last season, scoring on six. He also scored on three of six passes from inside the five. With the departure of Moss, who had 12 passes thrown to him inside the 5, Burleson and teammate Marcus Robinson (who had six) could see more jump balls in close as Minnesota apparently likes to throw near the goal line.

Burleson will start the season as the third receiver and could challenge Marcus Robinson for playing time in two-receiver sets. Burleson got time as the second receiver on the Minnesota offense last year and was quietly productive with 29 receptions for 455 yards and two touchdowns. While he doesn't have the speed to burn defenders deep, he runs good routes and has adequate size (6'0, 192 pounds) to emerge as a strong underneath receiver while Randy Moss, Robinson and Kelly Campbell run deep routes.

Burelson was selected in the third round out of the University of Nevada, Reno. The Vikings considered him the third best overall receiver in the draft, so he'll enter summer camp as the number four receiver. Burleson posted huge numbers in Nevada-Reno's wide-open passing game (138 catches, 1,629 yards last year), but it remains to see if he has the speed to win playing time in the NFL.